اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أسْتَخِيرُكَ بعِلْمِكَ، وأَسْتَقْدِرُكَ بقُدْرَتِكَ، وأَسْأَلُكَ مِن فَضْلِكَ العَظِيمِ؛ فإنَّكَ تَقْدِرُ ولَا أقْدِرُ، وتَعْلَمُ ولَا أعْلَمُ، وأَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الغُيُوبِ، اللَّهُمَّ إنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هذا الأمْرَخَيْرٌ لي في دِينِي ومعاشِي وعَاقِبَةِ أمْرِي – أوْ قالَ: عَاجِلِ أمْرِي وآجِلِهِ – فَاقْدُرْهُ لي ويَسِّرْهُ لِي، ثُمَّ بَارِكْ لي فِيهِ، وإنْ كُنْتَ تَعْلَمُ أنَّ هذا الأمْرَ شَرٌّ لي في دِينِيومعاشِي وعَاقِبَةِ أمْرِي – أوْ قالَ: في عَاجِلِ أمْرِي وآجِلِهِ – فَاصْرِفْهُ عَنِّي واصْرِفْنِي عنْه، واقْدُرْ لي الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ كَانَ، ثُمَّ أرْضِنِي قالَ: «وَيُسَمِّي حَاجَتَهُ-
(Sahih al-Bukhari 1166)
“O Allah, I seek Your counsel through Your knowledge and I seek Your assistance through Your might and I ask You of Your immense favour, for indeed You alone decree fate while I do not, and You (alone) know (all things) while I do not, and You alone possess all knowledge of the Unseen. O Allah, if You know this matter ( articulate matter) to be good for me as it pertains to my religion, my life and livelihood and to the final outcomes of my affairs, then decree it for me, facilitate it for me, and then bless it for me. But if You know this matter to be harmful to me as pertains to my religion, my life and livelihood and to the final outcomes of my affairs, then distance it from me and distance me from it, then decree what is good for me – wherever it may be – and content me with it.”
Roman Translation
Aye Allah main tere ilm ke zariye tere mashware ka taalib hon or teri qudart ke zariye teri madad mangta hoon or tujh se be panah fazl ka swal karta hon kyun k to hi taqdeer ka faisla karta hai jab ka mein nahin karta or to hi (sab kuch) janta hai jab kah min nihen janta or to hi ghaib ka ilm rakhta hai. Aye Allah agar to janta hay kah ya mamla mere liye acha hai jis sa mere deen, meri zindagi aur rozi or mere mamlaat ke aakhari nataij se mutaliq hay to use mere muqaddar kar, mere liye aasan farma, or phir mere liye is mein barkat ata farma. laikin agar to janta hay kah ya mamla mere liye mere deen, meri zindagi aur rozi or mere mamlaat ke aakhari nataij ke liye naqsan dah hay, to ise majh se dur kar or majhe is se dur kar, phir mere haq mein jo kach bhi ho is ka fisalah farma, or majhe is par razi kar de
When, Where, and How Much to Recite
When to Recite:
- Istikhara can be performed at any time of day or night, whenever you need to make a decision. There’s no specific time required. However, some prefer to perform it before going to sleep.
Where to Recite:
- Anywhere clean and private. It can be done at home, in the mosque, or any other suitable place.
How Much to Recite:
- The Istikhara prayer consists of two rak’ahs (units of prayer). After the prayer, the dua is recited. The dua is recited once.
Background:
Istikhara is a valuable practice for Muslims seeking guidance in their decisions. It involves a two-rak’ah prayer followed by a specific dua. The practice is based on a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, making it a legitimate and recommended act. The key is to approach it with sincerity, reliance on Allah, and a willingness to accept His decree
Hadith/Quranic Reference:
- Hadith Reference: The Istikhara dua is based on a Hadith narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) in Sahih Bukhari. This hadith outlines the prayer and the supplication. This provides the basis and legitimacy for the practice of Istikhara.
- Sahih Bukhari, Book 4, Hadith 248: This is the primary reference for the Istikhara prayer and dua. It details the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) guidance on seeking Allah’s counsel in important matters.
